Earlier this week, Radiohead made the album available as a downloadable MP3 file obtainable only through the band's In Rainbows website. Customers are given the option of paying whatever they choose to pay, including the sum of $0.00 save for a nominal download fee.
For those who still prefer something more tangible, you can also pre-order a "disc-box" edition that includes an extra disc with eight more songs, a booklet, two vinyl discs, and some actual artwork. That version will ship to customers on December 3, and can be yours for about $80 American (no freebies there). There are also credible reports about a more traditional CD version being in stores early next year for those who choose to wait it out.
Meanwhile Radiohead's unorthodox — to say the least — method of delivering this album has opened up all kinds of debate about everything from the band's motives in doing so, to heated discussions about things like bitrate.
You've gotta hand it to Radiohead here. They definitely have got people talking about their new album. Which leads us to the million dollar question — what about the album itself?
But before I get to that, just one more thing about the format. I personally find it frustrating the way that once you unzip the download file, it breaks into ten tracks that have to be played seperately. Yeah, I know I'm eventually just going to burn a CD anyway. But for now, having to refresh my Windows Media Player to play each track while I try to write about the album is just plain annoying. Now that I've got that off my chest...
Much of the ten new songs on In Rainbows are not really new at all. In fact, several of them — "Nude" and "Reckoner" for example — have been floating around for a number of years, albeit in often radically different versions than the ones found here.
The first time I heard the song "Reckoner" for example was at a Radiohead concert at the Gorge Ampitheatre in Eastern Washington back on the Kid A tour. The version on In Rainbows is quite a bit different however. As a melancholy piano and clanging drums form a backdrop, Thom Yorke lays down one of those trademark haunting vocals that seem to float and glide, rather than lead the track. By the time the strings and orchestration kick in, the effect is simply stunning. And beautiful. Thats really the only way I can describe it.
Article comments
1 - Greeny
"But before I get to that, just one more thing about the format. I personally find it frustrating the way that once you unzip the download file, it breaks into ten tracks that have to be played seperately. Yeah, I know I'm eventually just going to burn a CD anyway. But for now, having to refresh my Windows Media Player to play each track while I try to write about the album is just plain annoying. Now that I've got that off my chest..."
Hmmm..? If I got right what your trying to say here, I'm really kind of shocked, kind of amused. There's no way what your saying could be true. No matter which ever music player you choose to use there is no way that you would be forced to listen in pieces. If the windows media player seem to be too complicated then get winamp or some other real audio player.
2 - danny
erm you can load all ten tracks in media player if you want. then it'll play them. in order. without all that pesky having to get up and turn the record over that used to blight our lives back in the days of vinyl... ;-)
3 - Mark Saleski
nice review glen. i haven't gotten to this yet, but i think i will.
(p.s. dude, windows media player? screw that! get winamp. seriously. that's what i use, and you know how much tolerance i have for quirky software (none!))
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"it breaks into ten tracks that have to be played seperately."
Great stuff...*Smirk*
1.Select your favorite music files(ctrl+left-click or highlight with the "lasso").
2.Right-click any one of those files.
3.Choose "Add to my Now Playing list"
Voila.. Now you can have fond memories of that crackle & hiss(160kbps) without the worry of scratching your favorite vinyl.
Anyways, Good Review.
5 - Sumanto
Heh heh heh. Experienced reviewer, mp3 newbie. Playlist?
I wish Jammie Thomas had gotten in touch with you before the judgement.
6 - Nick
Really? You sit down and write a review of an album (a Radiohead album, no less) after listening to it twice? I wish I could have read that infromation before I gave any credence to the remainder of this review. Incredible.
7 - Glen Boyd
It's called a deadline Nick (albeit in this case a self-imposed one). Reviweers usually don't have the luxury of living with the release for a month or too before they write about it, because by then the public will have moved on.
As to the other comments, as you may have noticed I am somewhat of an "old school" type guy, as far as "techology" goes. Guilty as charged. But I'll get this whole computer business one of these days I suppose...
Thanx all for the comments.
-Glen
P.S. I do love the actual album.
8 - Tom Johnson
I feel pretty much the same way - a great album, and it grows on me with each listen the way a great album should.
As for Windows Media Player, just drag the 10 files into it and they'll all play the way you want them to. But, yeah, Winamp is probably the best choice, although I really don't have any problems with WMP.
9 - neil g
In time this album will become as recognised and celebrated as Dark Side of the Moon and Sgt. Peppers. Lonely Hearts Club Band.
With the release of In Rainbows RadioHead has published 10 tracks that are completely relevant to the world 21st century man has built for himself. The music immediately strikes the human soul and makes one recognise the intimacy with which we are involved with all that happens in and around us.
Just listen to this album, while you are working, on the train, at home with your family, alone in the dark, while running on the treadmill - it is so close to being, that it is like listening to something familiar that you heard while incubating in the womb, but at the same time you struggle to to hear what is being said and have to listen to it again. STUNNING TERRIFIC BEAUTIFUL EVOCATIVE!!!!
10 - Kara Boo
Is the album for Radiohead fans only?
11 - Glen Boyd
No Kara, it's for anyone who wants to download it. I recommend you do so immediately.
-Glen
12 - Paul Browne - People and Technology
Doing a quick survey on how much people paid for Radiohead in Rainbos. Current Survey results and prices paid are here.
BTW , I thought the album was good, but not great (compared to The Bends).
13 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
So far, this is the only Radiohead album I have enjoyed thoroughly.I definitely appreciate their translations of trip-hop,jazz,etc.. This is kinda like Beck's best song(ever) from the movie,"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and, for me, sits right up there with NIN's latest.